Card-index.



M, A. LEPELGW.

CARD WEEK.

, w13. Patented July 28, 19141- APELIUAT.

2 SHEETSHHBRT l.

) wom/woz Ito, e '5' LM( fha MAX A. REPELOW, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

CARD-INDEX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 15, 1913. Serial No. 806,722.

to an improved construction and arrange` ment of qhinged cards suitable for card indexes, cloth sample books, photograph a1- bu'ms and many other uses. 'l

It also covers certain forms of contarner capable of useful combination with my 1mproved cards.

(lneobject of the invention is to provide an arrangement of hinged cards for the'purposes above mcntioned'which shall lie snbstantially flat and securely over each other in either of two positions, whether normallyA upright or recumbent. l

Another object of my invention 1s to supply a volume of hinged cards provided with means whereby any desired card may be eX- posed with the utmost directncss, convenience and certainty,

Certain illustrativeand preferred embodiments of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1'is a sidei elevation of a card index suitable for deskn use, Fig. f2 is a front elevation of a portion of the same, portions of the selecting tabs being broken away, Fig. Bis a medianlongitudinal section of the holder shown inFi 1, Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modifie card index and holder, Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of a group of the'selecting tabs, Fig. 6 is an enlarged edge view of two stubs and hinged cards showing the preferred relative thickness of the same, and Figs. 7 and 8 and 9 are edge views of poxtioiis of cards showing various forms of tab construction,

My improved card volumes are composed f of superposed elements each comprising a card proper and a stub hinged thereto, which latter' is preferably thicker than the card proper. The combined length of card and stub in successive elements is substantially uniform throughout the volume, but the stubs increase in length by substantially uniform degrees from one face (front or Patented July 2s, 191.4.

back) of the volume to the other. i This gradual increase in the proportion of each successive element taken up by the stub portions thereof produces a hinging plane which is inclined to the normal position of the elements, and it is this arrangement which causes the cards proper to lie flat in either of the two positions for which they are destined. -M invention covers any means whereby t is arrangement of the hinging plane is secured. The excess in thickness preferably possessed by the stubs over the cards pro )er aids in the better accomplishment of t'is end. (See Fig. 6.)

In the modification shown in Fig. 1, the normal position of the cards is upright or nearly so, and in Fig; 1, I have shown about half the cards turned down, at 10, to expose the/front card of the group remaining,r upright, at 11. The full length of the cards is not shown in either position in Fig. 1. These cards proper are hinged in any desired manner to the fixed stubs 12, which, as shown, are. thicker than the cards proper. This makes it possible for eachygroup of cards, whether turned up or down, to lie in a tapering group; so that there will be no tendency of either group to spring open, such as would be likely to exist if the cards 'and stubs were `of the same thickness.

It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 6 that there is a tapered air space between the cards next the hinges which disappears at. the edge ofthe cards. This has a functionin keepin the cards from springing open when in t e raised position, there being a resultant adhesion near the edges, and a freedom of movement next the hinges. It will also be notcdthat the thin page is securedby a thin hinged member immediately adjoining the thick stub, there being very little clearance space between the leaf and the stub; the result being that there is not a long hinge to bend or get out of order, and the lower ends of the leaf when in the vertical position will rest on the upper edges of the stubs after an inapprcciable downward movement of the leaf. safety of the hinge, protects the same from wear, and at the saine time facilitates the operation of the device. While anysuitable hinge may be used, I prefer to employ a thin stroiig strip 13 firmly pasted along the meeting edges of each card and its stub. (See Fig. '2.)

'.lhc'upright form shown in Figs. l, 2- and 3 may be employed as apa er weight, and the preferred form of hol er comprises ,a hollow sheet metal base 14 provided with a partition 15 turned downward and then forward to form a` rear-chamberinclosimr a suitable weight 16, and to provide a sto rlip 17. Betweenthe two lpright sides o the base, which project orward from the weight 16, the. card carriage 18 is mounted, and this mounting is preferably Vaccomplished by providing a supporting or pivoting shaft 19 secured by thumb screws 20 on the two ndes of the base 14. The bottom of the carriage 18 is extended backward to form a rib-21 which plays between the floor of the base 14 and the Stop lip 17, as the eari riage is tilted forward or backward on .its

pivot 19. This rib is made of metal which can be easily bent more or less, so as to regulate the extent vto which the carriage may be tilted forward or backward. The stubs 12 are tightly bound between the back plate 22 of the carriage and a front clamping plate 23; the 'necessary pressure beingprovided by the rod 24 which passes through said plates and through suitable apertures in the stubs.

The ends of thisv rod are threaded, and milled nuts 25, 26 are emyployed to compress the plates against the stubs. vThis arrangement makes it easy to replace or rearran'gethe card's'. .i

It vis important that the stubs be held in such a manner that they can neither rotate Anor slip materially nor be lifted with the retaining rod 24. To prevent lateral tw-ist each stub has an extension which fits snugly between theV thin ksides of the tilting carriage 18, as clearly shown'in Fig. 1-, and the pressure exerted by these sides upon the stubs can heregulated by 'the thumb screws 20. The lifting of the rod 24 is absolutely prevented by the shoulders 23von the clamping plate 23, which tit snugly under. the extensions 18 on the sides of the carriage 18.

The dotted lines in Fig. 3 indicate the tw-o vpositions which the carriage 18 may take around its pivotal support 19, according to the position of the center of gravity of the total cardgroup, as determined by the positions` of the eards.- I have found' that, by providing a tilting carriage of this character, the llat positioning of the cards in proper' cputact with each other is facilitated.

' dcntully pressed down by the hand of the' It will be seen that a-limitcd play between the card carrier and the support is permitted when the turned down cards are acciuser, as frequently happens in the use ofa device of this character. l'lard pressure of the hand of the user would not only tend `to tear the hinge of the to card, but might also topple the whole hol( er over forward,

causingr all the cards to topple forward, whereas this slight yielding of the horizontalamijds will serve as a check to prevent fying marks or characters may be adopted,

such toppling motion. I have found 1t 1mportant toemployelt the front of the group of stubs, `a short guard stub 27, extending up tothe hinging line of the front card as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. This guard stub acts to prevent the breaking down of the hinge and the pulling oil' of the hinging stri 13 by the 4sagging forward. of the front car In" order to facilitate exposing at once any desired card `without dilliculty I supply on one or both edges of the cards a series of select in tabs. As shown in Fig. 3 these areidentihed byletters of the alphabet, but, of coprse, any appropriate indentiaccording to the cards are' put. 1

The selecting tabs are arranged in groups, as for instance the groups G H, I J, or K L, shown in Fi 3 and each roup is displaced longitudinal y of the. car s with respect to the other groups. As shown with larticular relation to the group G H, party broken away in- Fig. 2, the individual tabs 28, 29l and 30 of each group are .successively 90l shorter, each than the one in front ofit in the same grou This shortening mayv take place from rig t tovleft, as in Fig. 2, or in the other dimension of each tub, as in Fig. 5 or both differences may exist. The essenparticular use to which the 'tial' point, in this connection, is that each tab should project in some direction beyond the edge of thetab behind it. This arrangement makes it possible instantly to select, by .feelin with the finger tip, the exact point in t e card group where the same is to be opened in or er to expose the desired card. Also all necessity bling with the card edges is obviated.A :le

In Fig. 4 is shown a modiiicationof my 108 device wherein the normal position of the cards is substantially horizontal. Here the stubs 12 and guard stub 27 are clamped between the supporting bed 31 and the plate 32, by means of the nuts 33, 34, threaded onto the rod 35. The plate 32 ispreferably provided with a downward extension 36.to protect the stub ends, and the other end of said plate is turned upward to form a back support 37 for the cards whefi the areV turnedu during 1 "use, as shown inv otted lines. T e u turned metal sides of the spporting bed 1 tsnugly lagainst the sides of the stubs, to prevent lateral twist or slip therof.- Here again, the hingin lplane is inclined tothe bed 31. This e `s preferably supported at one end by a down-turned portion 38,.:x'ndstztbe other end b za similar ortion BS'prov'idcd with'a rol er40,.to faci itatc movingtie. whole device Vover-a desk or table. selecting tabs, in this forni as in the other, are arranged in groups, displaced longitudinally.

Fig. 5 shows the arrangement ofthe tabs in the individual groups; the front tab of of awkward funieach group projecting outwardly beyond the next tab to `therein', while the latter tab has u. greater ieng'th in a longitudinal direction. The projection of tab 4l, for instance, be- ,Vond in a longitudinal direction i'acililates the liftingr of the i'oriner away troni the latter to swing it into thtl upright position; while, on the other hand, the card t9 projects laterally beyond il. to facilitaire swinging the latter downward again when desired. In this manner selection ot' cards, either for swinging downward or uinvard. is readily accomplished. 1t will be readily understood that, eventhoug'h there may be no projection of one tab beyond another in a group while the cards are in one position (uprig t or recunibent) the peculiar hinging described will canse the tabs to be longitudinally displaced with respect to each other when the cards are turned down (or up) into the other position. My invention covers this inode ot' causing successive tabs to lap over for facilitating manipulation. The tabs may be made in a single piece with the cards as Shown in Fig. 5, but it is preferred to provide reinforcement for the same. In Fig. 7 the card is shown at 10, the tab at 41, and a reinforcement 43 on each side of said tab. In Fig. 8 a single reinforcing piece 44 is applied, which is rela tively thicker than the card. vln Fig. t), the entire tab 45 is applied directly to the card 10. All oflthese forms are within my invention. i

i Various changes .may inade in my iinproved device without departing,r front iny invention, and I do not linlit myself to the details herein shown and described.

1. A device ot' the class described coinprising .a group of contiguous ilat elements each cornl'iosed ot a thick stub and a relatively thin card hinged thereto, the stub on each strcessive element being shorter than that on the element next in rear thereof.y binding ineans t'or holding said stubs together, and incans i'or holding said cardsdn a position slightly inclined backward from the vertical, substantially as described.

2. A device oi' the class described coinprisiniy a group of contiguous fiat elements each composed of a thick stub and a relatively thin card hinged therctoby a close `jointed hinge, the stub on cach successive element beinglr shorter than that on the elenient next in rear thereof, binding nieans tor holding:` said stubs together, and means for holding said cards in a position slightly inclined backward troni the vertical, substan tially as described.

3. A devi-3e oi" the claws inscribed coniprising; a group et contin'nwus :fiat elements each composed ci" a thick sinh and a relY atively hin fard tinged thereto, tht nb on l each successive element being snort-1:' than that on the elcinent next in rear thereof, a guard stub in front of the other stubs, binding iueans for holding said :tubs together, and nieans for holding said ear in a position slightly inclined backwan from the vertical, substantially as described.

l. A device oi the class described coinprisnng a group of contiguous iat elements each composed ot a thick stub and a relatively thin card hinged thereto by a close jointed hinge. the stub on each succeslsive clement being shorter than that on the element next in rear thereof, a guard stub in Vt'ront of the other stubs, binding` ineans `l'or holding said stubs together, and means for holdingV said cards in a position slightly inclined backward from the vertical, substantially as described.

A device ot* the class described coinprisingir a group of contiguous lat elenieuts each composed ot a` thick stub and a relatively thin card hinged thereto, the stub on each successive cleinent being shorter than that on the element next in rear thereof, binding means for holding said stubs tol.fetingig said cazdf Ninn' provided individually with tabs arranged in lgroups disposed loiniitudinally with respect to the cards, cach tab in a nronp projecting in one direction beyond the edille of the tab behind it, and ineans i'or holding said cards in a position slightly inclined backward from the vertical, substantially as described.

(i. "t device of the class described coniprisingr1 a group of contiguous fiat eleinents each composed of a thick Stub and a relatively thin card hinged thereto, the Stub on each successive element beingq shorter than that on the element next in rear thereot", a guard stul, in iront of thc other stubs, binding' means t'or holding said stubs to- Iqether. said cards beine; provided individuall)Y with tabs arranged in groups disposed longitudinally with resp-ret to the cards, each tab in a group projecting in one direclion beyond the ediye of the tab behind it, and means for holding said cards in a position slightly inclined baclnvard troni be vertical, substantially as described.

7. A device of the class described coniprising a sheet nietal base having a. partition bent downward and forward. a wein-ht behind said partition`r a tilting carriage on said hase having a` rib adapted to play nnder the forward-turned 'edge of said partition, and a grroup of cards suitably mounted in said Aarriage, substantially as described.

S. A device of the class described coinprisini;n a base, a tiltingY carriage Supported thereon and having a. stop rib composed of metal capable of' bending readily for pui'- poses ot" adjustment, a stop on said base cocpi-.intim` with said rib, and a sgroup of cards suitably inonntoi in said carriage, substantially as descrirc thereon, a

9. A'device of the class described cornprisingr` a base, a tiltin carriage supported groupo clamped in said carriage and arranged with their Outer edges forming a series of steps, and a group of super-posed cards hinged individually to the stepped, ends off said stubs,

' substantially as described,

1U. A device of the class described comprising a base, a tilting carriage supported thereon, a group of relatively thick stubs clamped in said carriage and arranged' with their outer edges forming a series of steps, and a group of superposed relatively thin cards hinged individually to the stepped ends of said stu-bs, substantially *as described.

11. A device of the class described comprising a base having upright, sides, a tilting carriage pivoted between said sides, stubs clamped in said carriage and arranged with their outer edges forming a series of steps, and cards individually hinged t0 the stepped ends of said stubs,

- substantially as described.

superposed` stubs 12. A device of the class described comprising a carriage having thin compressible sides, a group of stubs fitting snugly between said sides, means for compressing said sides more or less against said stubs, and cards hinged to said stubs, substantially as described.

13. A device of the class described comprising a group of stubs, a carriage having sides closely confining the edges of said stubs and having forward extensions, a clamping plate having portions engaged by said forward extensions, a securing rod passing through said stubs and clamping plate, and means engaging Said rod ada ted to exert pressure on said clamping p ate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

MAX A. REPELOW.

Witnesses:

iH. S. MACKAYE,

KATHARINE C. MEAD. 

